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Depression in Children and Teens

What is depression?
Childhood depression is a serious problem. Depression is more than just feeling down or sad. Even when major disappointments and setbacks make people feel sad and angry, the negative feelings usually lessen with time. But when depression lasts for weeks or months and limits a child's ability to function normally, it is called major depression.

How does it occur?




What are the symptoms?
Depression is somewhat different in children and teens than in adults. Adults usually describe feelings of sadness and hopelessness along with fatigue. Depressed children are usually more irritable and moody. They may be defiant. They may shift from sadness or irritability to sudden anger.


A child with symptoms of depression:

  • Gets irritated often. Little things make him or her lose his or her temper or become tense. Your child may have frequent outbursts of shouting or complaining, or acting reckless.
  • May start destroying things such as household items or toys.
  • Has low self-esteem, saying things like, "I hate myself" or "I'm stupid."
  • Feels restless, bored, or tired most of the time.
  • Loses interest in a lot of the things he or she used to like, such as music, sports, or being with friends, and wants to be left alone most of the time.
  • Forgets lots of things, and has trouble paying attention. Like a child with attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD), the depressed child can have difficulty staying on task with homework.
  • May sleep a lot more or have trouble falling asleep at night. Many depressed children and teens wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.
  • Loses his or her appetite, becomes a picky eater, or eats a lot more.
  • Becomes extremely sensitive to rejection or failure. Or your child rejects others, such as refusing affection from parents or pushing friends away.
  • Talks about death and suicide, such as saying, "I wish I were dead."
  • Feels guilty for no reason or believes that he or she is just no good. Your child may self-injure, for example by biting, hitting, or cutting him- or herself.
  • Doesn't care about rewards or consequences of doing or not doing chores or homework.

How is it diagnosed?

  • anxiety disorders
  • attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD)


Diagnosing depression in children is difficult and often requires seeing your child over weeks or months.

How is it treated?



Several types of medicines can help treat depression. Your child's health care provider will work with you to carefully select the best one for your child. If anxiety symptoms continue, then medicines just for anxiety may be added. If your child also has ADHD, medicines for ADHD may be prescribed.



How long will the effects last?


What can I do to help my child?

  • If your child or teen is suicidal, get professional help right away.
  • Discuss any side effects with your child's health care provider.
  • Tell all health care providers who treat your child about all medicines the child takes to make sure there is no conflict with antidepressant medicines.

When should I seek help?

You can get more information from organizations such as:

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Telephone: 800-826-3632
Web site: http://www.dbsalliance.org

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Telephone: 800-950-NAMI (6264)
Web site: http://www.nami.org

National Institute of Mental Health
Telephone: 866-615-NIMH (6464)
Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/